All the Spring Cleaning in 52 easy parts | Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Spring cleaning is a good thing.

It's just hard to do all in one go.

So this year I've broken it up into easy parts I can do throughout spring. Or when the sun actually looks like it's going to come out!

Last week I looked at 13 dusting, vacuuming and polishing must dos. This week I'm focused on washing bedding, soft furnishing and carpets.

Most of these will have to wait till much later in the spring here in London, but it feels good to have a plan of action and know what I will actually need to do.

I have included tips for each of the activities below plus links to great ideas from other bloggers. If you would like my complete spring cleaning check-list you can download it here.

Bedding, Soft Furnishings and Carpets

Clean the washing machine
De-scale iron
Wash duvets, quilts and pillows
Wash or dry clean blankets and throws
Clean & turn mattresses
Wash or dry clean curtains & blinds
Wash shower curtain
Wash or dry clean loose covers
Wash cushion pads and covers
Vacuum & clean carpets
Brush and clean rugs
Clean out laundry baskets
Wash winter clothes before storing

1. Clean the washing machine

My machine does at least 6 washes a week and the soap dispenser shows how much yukky gunk that creates. Over time that gunk can really make your laundry pong! A monthly empty cycle keeps gunk at bay but it really needs an annual deep clean:

Tips from Eco Karen

Take out the soap dispenser & wash in soapy water
Remove filters and wash in soapy water
Clean around the door & seals - specially on front loaders
Run an empty clean cycle (if you've got one) or hot wash with a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda / bicarb of soda added to drum.
Run another empty cycle and leave the door open to clear any lingering smell of vinegar.

Check out Ask Anna Moseley for more tips for top loaders and Eco Karen for front loaders.

2. De-scale iron

Irons like washing machines can unfortunately get stinky and deposit hard water flakes and other grot all over your clean clothes if you don't keep them clean. They also just stop working as well. The easiest way to clean an iron is to fill it with half vinegar and half water and leave it to sit for 15 minutes before emptying it out. Fill it with vinegar and water again and iron a clean rag on the hottest setting. Empty and rinse it out again.

3. Wash duvets, quilts and pillows

A Crafty Fox has tips on drying
pillows outside

Duvets, quilts and pillows absorb all sorts of body fluids throughout the year so really need a thorough wash at least once a year. Use a mild washing liquid and give them an extra rinse to get all the liquid out.

As soon as rinsed get them out of the machine and start drying them. Ideally they need to go in a dryer; a common tip is to put 2 new tennis balls in clean socks in the drier with them which will help to prevent the feathers from clumping.

If you haven't got a drier, wash them on a really sunny day and get them out in the sun as early as possible. Lay them out flat on top of an airer and turn and beat them regularly to stop the feathers clumping. If the feathers clump, they won't dry and will get mildew. If you haven't got a drier consider taking them to the launderette but if you've got a lot do to it could be expensive.

One Good Thing by Jillee has great tips on getting yellowed pillows clean again and A Crafty Fox on drying them outside.

4. Wash or dry clean blankets and throws

Unfortunately, not all blankets and throws are washable but if they are or you're ready to take the risk, the basic guidelines are to wash on cool wool or delicates wash with a ideally a liquid specifically for wool. Spin and, if you've got a drier, dry them lightly before putting them over a large airer or 4 chairs to dry. This is another thing ideally done on a sunny day so you can get them outside to dry quickly.

Check out Sarah on the Blog

5. Clean & turn mattresses

Make It Do has tips on cleaning mattresses

Not all mattresses need turning these days but they definitely all need a good clean - they get drenched with all sorts throughout the year and are a haven for mites. If the mattress is stained make a paste with bicarb of/baking soda, rub it onto the stain and leave it. Use a sieve to sprinkle soda all over the rest of the mattress. Leave for an hour. Then slowly vacuum up all the soda.

Make It Do and Inspired Housewife have more tips including using hydrogen peroxide for really bad wee stains.

6. Wash or dry clean curtains & blinds

Curtains are usually a major investment but you can make them last if if you look after them and fend of dust and moths which are their biggest enemies

Most curtains can be washed on a gentle cold cycle and dried at a low temperature. Again, if you don't have a drier, leave this for a sunny day when you can get them on the line early.

If you're not sure they are washable and can't face the dry cleaning bills you can at least freshen them up. Run the upholstery attachment on your vacuum all over them to get dust out, spot clean any marks and get them an air on the line on a sunny day. If you've got fabric blinds, you could also run a lint brush over them.

To protect against moths sew lavender bags or cedar balls into the lining. For more tips check out Laura's Crafty Life

7. Wash shower curtain

Shower curtains can get disgustingly brown and moldy if they don't get washed once in a while. Soak in hot water with a non-chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. After thorough rinsing, wash in machine with some towels which will stop it from getting wrinkly. Call Her Blessed Angela has some more great tips.

8. Wash or dry clean loose covers
Vacuum sofas and chairs. Check labels and carefully spot clean stains. Work on each stain with appropriate remedy - Taylor Flannery's blog covers just about every stain you can come up with! Wash according to washing labels - Taylor's blog also provides a guide to reading the labels. Try to line dry if you can to minimise shrinkage.

9. Wash cushion pads and covers
As with loose covers, check labels before washing anything and spot clean.

10. Vacuum & clean carpets

Carpets are obviously a major investment that you want to last as long as possible. Give them a really thorough vacuum first. Spot clean and if you've got access to a carpet cleaner give them a complete wash. Natural Mom's Blog has tips for getting stains out naturally.

11. Brush and clean rugs
Give them a really good vacuum, not forgetting to turn them over and vacuum the back where all sorts of stuff will be lurking. If you can get them on the washing line and give them a good old beat to really remaining dust out. Without us really noticing it rugs can get a bit stinky so it's worth sprinkling over some baking soda / bicarb of soda (check colour fastness first) and leaving on to soak up lingering smells.

12. Clean out laundry baskets
Get right to the bottom of all the laundry baskets. Wash, give away or throw away everything lurking at the bottom. Wash any loose linings. Vacuum the bottom and thoroughly wipe down. When done put some lavender bags and cedar balls in to keep them smelling fresh

13. Wash winter clothes before storing
Moths along with hard water & too much rain are the bane of London life! Wash all your winter woolies, get them properly dry and store away in storage bags with lavender sachets & cedar balls to keep the little blighters off your favourite jumper.

I hope you found these helpful. If you've got great tips or posts of your own on spring cleaning do let me know and I will include you in my posts. And don't forget to come back next week for 13 tips on spring cleaning the kitchen.

If you're looking for ideas to help you around the house check out my housework board on Pinterest ..

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